Jarrett Allen’s return to Brooklyn’s starting lineup went quite well, to say the least. The big man had logged double-doubles in two of the Nets’ previous three games, but Allen’s performance in Brooklyn’s seismic 130-96 win over the Utah Jazz was a little different.
He scored a season-high 19 points, grabbed a season-high 18 rebounds, set a career-high with three steals and blocked two shots. Only one other Nets player has ever put a line together like that in an NBA game before — Kenyon Martin, back in December of 2003. Not to mention, this showing came against the supposed best defensive center in the NBA, Rudy Gobert.
So, why was Allen able to have his way with the two-time Defensive Player of the Year?
“Before the game, I’m normally a pesto on my pasta type of guy, but today, I went with Alfredo sauce,” Allen said with a smile on a Zoom call with reporters after the game. “So, I really think that was the thing that turned my game on tonight.”
Serious or not, the change didn’t hurt. Might be best if Allen doesn’t test his theory just yet — stick with the Alfredo.
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